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While perusing YouTube this morning I came across "The Art of Craftsmanship" YouTube channel and he had a wonderful method that anyone can employ with the tools as woodworkers we already have on hand. First, you need an ol rusty file or a file that isn't usable anymore, then you need your woodworking skills and common sense. This was an enjoyable video for me to watch anyway, not a whole lot of music, straight forward speak from the young man knife maker, and speaking in easy to understand terminology. There are many ways to make a knife, but I thought this was one way we all, as woodworkers can wrap our heads around, and most of us already have all the tools on hand to complete a knife from a file. Hope you enjoy.

I had one about 2 decades ago and loved it then. I gave it to a girl who was moving to a large city. Eventually the lack of a carry knife just eventually got to me. So I got another. This one is an enormous improvement. The blade is like wet ice against wet ice it opens and closes so cleanly and slick. I am convinced there is some kind of bearing in there. Opening it is about as good and quick as a switchblade. I push on the little tab on the back which pushes the blade out just a scosh and the slightest flick of the wrist does the rest. It can all be one smooth movement. Closing it is similar: I just pull with a thumb on a little tab and flick the blade closed. There is a gripping serration on the back of the blade at the heel and in front where an index finger would go. It fits the hand well, I'm happy. Just gotta remember to leave it in the vehicle if police ever ask me to step out.

I have been diving head first into green-woodworking lately and the carving end of this craft, and in doing so I had to start purchasing some knives. Based on the solid recommendation by Jogge Sudqvist, I also believe he is a spokesman for Morakniv, I purchased a set of Morakniv's. First off, they are very reasonably priced. In the green woodworking world you can spend upwards of 200 dollars for a hand made Slojd knife by reputable makers, they forge them and make the handles, each one with attention to detail. Are the more pricey knives worth it, I'd say so! The craftsmanship that goes into these knives is incredible. But, I am frugal, so I set out and purchased several less expensive Morakniv's to start off my spoon carving journey. Morakniv – A part of you MORAKNIV.SE Morakniv har varit en del av svensk hantverkstradition sedan 1891. En Morakniv är alltid tillverkad i fabriken i Mora med de... The Morakniv's are made in Sweden, and shipped to the states, you can find them on Amazon and other retailers, and they all sell them at the same price mostly. You can see a few of my Morakniv's in the image below. From the top one right below my hatchet, is the 120, then the middle knife is the 164 hook, and then the 105 at the bottom just above the froe. I also have the 106 and 122 and the 163 double edge hook. Each knife runs between 19 and 25 bucks, they are an incredible value, and they are the darlings of Swedish folks. The Morakniv's are to the Swedes, what Buck Knife is to us Americans. The Morakniv can be found strapped to the belt on anyone living in the suburbs and rural areas of Sweden, and young boys have them strapped to their belts as well. Here is a closer look at my Morakniv's. For the spoon that I recently carved I used three of the knives, the 164 hook that is to the immediate right of the spoon I used for dishing out the bowl of the spoon, the 105 that is at the far left for heavy stock removal, and the smaller curved 120, third from left for smaller curved work. Of course I used my hatchet to rough out the spoon blank before I pulled out my Morakniv's. As you can see there are sheaths for the knives, they are plastic, with a belt loop insert so you can pull it through your belt and carry the knife at your side for those bush-craft forest outings. The 163 slight hook at the far right came with its own leather sheath above it, that was nice. These knives come incredibly sharp out of the box, there is no need to do a single thing with them before you start carving. They are ready, and they hold an edge very well, I have carved three spoons and still have not even stropped any of my knives yet. The spoon below is my latest attempt, and I finally got something that resembles a spoon. This spoon is awaiting the finish, which will darken it up and hopefully show off what little grain it has, and provide a barrier for moisture and every day use. Morakniv's sheathed. I have been reading and using these two books for a guide into the art of green woodworking, spoon and bowl carving, and the making and set up of pole lathes. I have not began my pole lathe yet, but it's on my to-do list this summer. Here is my gallery of my trials and tribulations. And here is a nice video from a wonderful Slojd artist, reviewing the Morakniv 105. I have come to trust this carver at YouTube Channel Woodsmans Finest. And of course you have Jogge Sundqvist showing us all the knife grips at his YouTube Channel for Morakniv. He has a wonderful series for the Swedish Knife Grip Sessions, of which I have used about 5 or so grips, I am becoming very comfortable with these grips and really, there is no other way to efficiently carve than the Slojd way, it's amazing how well and efficient you can work with these techniques. So that's it for now, I am having a blast, it's fun just walking out to the backyard, yank a piece of green wood from the pile of cut limbs of our Chinaberry tree I pruned weeks ago, and just start woodworking. It's a very liberating and simple way to get back to our roots, and enjoy the fresh air. Thanks for reading.

I love this book, I ordered it from Tools For Working Wood and it's also available on Amazon. The book is a hard cover and full of great illustrations and images. The author Jogge Sundqvist walks you through what is needed to carve bowls, wooden ware and many other useful items for the home and garden. The principal of Slojd is to create self sufficiency in work, from making your own tools, to cutting down a tree or parts of a tree, and processing the wood by hand to bring it to the point of working it into something useful. I have become as of late very interested in wood carving, green woodworking and other bodger type work. I will someday build a pole lathe as well. Jogge walks you through the processes from which tools to purchase for carving, how to keep them sharp, and how to use the special Swedish knife grips that look very intimidating at first, but once you study how ingenious the grips are, and the natural safety stops in place to prevent from cutting oneself, it all makes sense and I cannot wait to get a hold of some green tree limbs and start splitting and working the wood with hatchet and knives. I give this book a big thumbs up. Enjoy!

Folks, I would like to know what these knives primary purpose is. I received them from the estate of a woodcarver, among many other talents he had. They look a tad rusty at the knife portion but man the cutting edge is surgical sharp! They are about 6" long and range from 1/2" to 1" wide, and about 1/8" thick. They all have makers marks or as I have learned with Japanese tools, the stamps could be philosophical musings. Any help identifying the actual use appreciated.

Hi Everyone Here are a couple of photos of my newest commissioned knife block. Made from walnut with holly accents. 11.5" x 11.5" x 13" and weighs 26 LBS.

I made a knifesharpener maple 3/8" steel rod stock, 5/8" steel rod stock, 4, 1/4-20 bolts and 2 nuts, a 1/4-20 set screw, some 3/8-16 stock, some 2" dia steel, couple of tie rod ends. Little DMT diamond hones and super glue oh and some 1/4" thick steel flat stock I am considering an addition to mount in the jaws to do scissors and maybe other things JUST LIKE TV~!!!!! https://photos.smugmug.com/Tools-I-made-or-Purchased/i-RHpKZvM/0/fddf9298/1920/knife sharpener-1920.mp4

A friend builds some very nice custom knives and we've been talking about a collaboration on Etsy, for him to build the knife and me to build a box. He didn't have a knife ready but I built a box anyway. And I built a knife... The box is Walnut with Figured Walnut accents and Red Palm handles, finished in Nitrocellulose lacquer. The knife is Curly Maple, Red Palm, and Figured Walnut, finished is French polish Shellac. Enjoy! David

After I retired, I made a lot of things, things that floated around in my mind. One thing that I had never seen was a pocket knife made of wood. So I made a couple just for fun. Even incorporated a locking feature.

Anyone ever seen this type of hinge available?

I just purchased a very nice James Swan draw knife for my aspiring post and rung chair making venture I am about to embark on. The handles are adjustable, which I am not too crazy about, but the steel is excellent with these Swan tools. And the price was right. Can't wait to get the mail in the next week and tune it up and rejuvenate the handles and put it to wood. A little history on the James Swan Tool Co. http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioSwan.html